More in Corn

We started planting soybeans on Thursday. After getting nearly 5 in. of rain, the conditions were surprisingly good. Nearly all of our corn acres are emerging and it looks to be off to a good start, except for where the water ponded....More

We are receiving numerous reports right now about slugs causing significant feeding injury requiring treatment with baits. These reports are two to four weeks early compared with most years, and is a result of the warmer winter and March. Slugs have attached out earlier than normal and have reached a size that causes noticeable feeding injury much sooner....More

While no state is completely finished planting corn, some are getting close as the entire corn crop is 71% planted for 2012. This is well ahead of the five-year average of 47% by this date, and even further ahead of last year’s 32% pace....More

"The smaller the weed, the better," says University of Illinois Associate Professor of Weed Science Aaron Hager. Proper timing of the application of postemergence herbicides provides the corn crop with the best opportunity to express its full genetic yield potential. Allowing weeds to compete with the crop for too long reduces its seed yield. Yield losses can accumulate very rapidly, and the associated costs can far exceed the cost of an integrated weed management program that includes a properly timed application of a postemergence herbicide....More

Over the past two seasons, farmers across the Corn Belt have participated in an online early warning system tool to monitor above ground pests that could threaten their corn yields. For 2012, this sophisticated program, known as the Insect Forecast tool, has been enhanced to track another economically damaging pest – corn rootworm – as well as to offer farmers expanded online and mobile access....More

The steady decline in prices over the past few months reflects, in part, expectations for a large 2012 U.S. corn crop and some rebuilding of inventories during the year ahead, according to University of Illinois Agricultural Economist Darrel Good....More

University of Illinois associate professor of weed science Aaron Hager says that the below-freezing temperatures last week damaged some emerged corn in some parts of Illinois. “While the damage appears not to be widespread, it is very likely that some growers will opt to replant damaged stands,” he says. Losses of the initial corn stand could range from complete to partial, so farmers may need to control existing corn plants before replanting....More

Farmers around the U.S. made big progress this past week, planting another 10% of the corn crop. The overall crop is now 17% planted, 12 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 5%....More

Corn growers wanting to ensure a healthy crop with strong yields need to plan ahead, including knowing when to plant, when and if to till and how to make the right seed depth adjustments based on soil conditions, says Peter Thomison, an Ohio State University Extension expert....More